Modi was addressing an event to mark the Legal Services Day and a commendation ceremony, organised under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
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Prime Minister Modi highlighted his agenda of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” and said that there must be “Sabka Nyay” (justice for all).
Recalling the contribution of the NALSA in spreading legal awareness, Justice T.S. Thakur, who will succeed Chief Justice H.L. Dattu as Chief Justice of India on December 3, said: “No system, no society, no polity can survive if you don’t ensure justice to poor. If we incorporate this criterion, then each candidate would take social service on priority”, he said.
The settlement of cases through Lok Adalats was not just a win-win situation for parties to the dispute, Justice TS Thakur said it also reduced the burden of many cases as matters settled before Lok Adalats can not be challenged.
“Can you imagine how much apathy there has been towards them (transgenders)”. We will have to develop systems.
Pointing out that no institution can remain in a situation of status quo, Modi said everything must change as status quoist situation was fraught with stagnation.
Even as his government fights a battle in the Supreme Court against a 2014 judgment granting constitutional recognition to transgenders as a third gender, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said the government needs to “change its outlook” towards them so they are not treated “unjustly”. We will have to bring changes to legal system. Changes are inevitable in tune with the times.
Mr. Modi said along with “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, he believed there must be ‘Sabka Nyay’. “Old things are best and that is why we will not lay our hands on them is not the way”, said Modi, adding that stakeholders need to look beyond courts and Lok Adalats for disposal of cases. He said the burden on the judiciary can be lowered and the quality of justice can be made through collective effort.
The legal schemes were inaugurated by Justice T S Thakur of the Supreme Court and Executive Chairman of NALSA in the presence of Union Law and Justice Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. He said of relevance to todays discussion is the Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels. Free legal service is an inalienable element of reasonable fair and justice procedure.
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In the course of his address, Modi, listing initiative by his government, said after becoming Prime Minister, he found out that a whopping Rs 27,000 crore was lying unclaimed in PF accounts of workers and called the previous dispensation was “insensitive”.
